Minnesota Timberwolves Ricky Rubio waits to come into the first quarter of the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Dallas Mavericks game at the Target Center on December 15, 2012 in Minneapolis. (Pioneer Press: Sherri LaRose-Chiglo)

RECAP: The Timberwolves got an emotional lift from Ricky Rubio’s season debut and had six players score in double figures to outlast Dallas on Saturday night, Dec. 15, inside a charged-up Target Center.

Nikola Pekovic had 21 points and eight rebounds to help the Wolves (12-9) win their fourth consecutive game. Alexey Shved added 18 points and six assists. Rubio finished with eight points, nine assists and four rebounds in 19 minutes in his first game since recovering from a major knee injury last season.

MEANING: It is obvious the Wolves have missed Rubio’s playmaking skills. His teammates got easier shots throughout the night, particularly Derrick Williams (5 for 9) and Pekovic (9 of 18) off Rubio’s penetration. Coach Rick Adelman went back to Rubio with 3:16 left in fourth quarter when it appeared he was done for the night with 9:22 left.

ETC.: The Wolves’ four-game winning streak is their first since the 2009-10 season (Jan. 29-Feb. 6) under former coach Kurt Rambis.

— Ray Richardson

UP NEXT: at Magic, 6 p.m. Monday, FSN, WCCO-AM 830.

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